Netherlands vs Bangladesh Prediction: Netherlands will be hoping for comeback

Netherlands and Bangladesh are going head to head in the 28th game of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Eden Garden stadium, Kolkata, India on 28th October. The Netherlands have hunted down some big teams in the tournament and will be looking to dominate against favourites Bangladesh. Who will win this game?

The Netherlands faced defeats against Pakistan and New Zealand in the early stages of the tournament, but they delivered a stunning victory over South Africa, which raised hopes for their campaign. However, the Dutch team subsequently experienced setbacks, suffering losses to Sri Lanka and Australia. Their recent defeat to the Australians was particularly disheartening, marked by a record-breaking 309-run margin.

Head coach Ryan Cook expressed his disappointment, saying, "We talked a good game before the match, but we didn't play good cricket. We need to maintain a higher standard of play for an extended period if we intend to be competitive." Just a few days later, the Netherlands have the chance to rectify their performance against struggling opposition.

All-rounder Colin Ackermann and captain Scott Edwards have been the leading run-scorers for the Netherlands in this Cricket World Cup. Edwards has maintained an average of over 45 in the tournament, yet it is evident that he requires stronger support from several other Dutch batsmen whose averages are below 20.

In terms of bowling, seamer Bas de Leede has been the top wicket-taker for the team in this competition, accumulating nine wickets in five matches. He will be eager to bounce back after conceding the most expensive 10-over bowling figures in the history of ODI cricket against Australia.

Vikramjit Singh, Max O'Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Scott Edwards (c&wk), Sybrand Engelbrecht, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren

Bangladesh began their World Cup journey with a victory over Afghanistan but have faced four consecutive defeats since, falling to England, New Zealand, India, and South Africa. Their chances of reaching the semi-finals are now slim, and even a win against the Netherlands might not significantly change their prospects.

The Tigers have a history of outperforming stronger opponents in major tournaments but have struggled to tap into that potential in the absence of key players like Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. Despite Al Hasan's return to the team in the match against South Africa, he failed to make an impact with both the bat and ball. Bangladesh is relying on their veteran all-rounder to deliver a standout performance against the Dutch, as he shoulders the responsibilities of captaincy, wicket-taking, and run-scoring.

On the batting front, the experienced Mohammad Mahmudullah has emerged as Bangladesh's top run-scorer in the tournament. His recent century against South Africa should boost his confidence. While the Tigers have three bowlers who have taken six wickets each in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, there isn't a standout performer among them. This could be an opportunity for spinner Mehidy Hasan to step up and deliver a significant performance in favorable conditions.

Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (C), Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam

In seven of the last ten ODIs held at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, the team batting first emerged victorious. However, the most recent instance of this was in 2017, and since then, the playing conditions at the ground have undergone significant changes. In a recent ODI at this venue in early 2023 between India and Sri Lanka, the hosts secured a win while chasing a target.

At the beginning of this World Cup, captains who won the toss predominantly chose to field first. Nevertheless, this trend has shifted in the last five matches, with the toss winners now opting to bat first.

This match marks the first of five fixtures at Eden Gardens in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The pitch is expected to be fresh and conducive to high-scoring games. In the Indian Premier League earlier in the year, there were three instances of teams scoring over 200 runs in their 20-over first innings.

Netherlands' last ODI at this ground was in 2011, while Bangladesh has not played an ODI here since 1990. It might be advantageous to field two specialist spinners at this venue.

There is no rain in the forecast for the days leading up to the match and on the match day itself, ensuring a complete match amid the typical hot weather and high humidity levels.

Two struggling teams at the bottom of the 10-team points table, both vying for a semi-final spot, will face each other, as well as the challenges posed by their own form.

Bangladesh has failed to secure a single win in their last four World Cup matches, while the Netherlands only has the memorable victory over South Africa to their credit.